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Martin Luther King Jr.
leadership

Martin Luther King Jr.

1929 – 1968

3Quotes
3Themes
39Years

About Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr. (1929–1968) was an American Baptist minister and the most prominent leader of the American civil rights movement. , 1955), he led the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955–56, co-founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and organized the March on Washington in 1963 where he delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech.

He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 at 35 — the youngest recipient at the time. Deeply influenced by Thoreau, Gandhi, and his own Christian faith, he developed a philosophy of nonviolent resistance that transformed American law. He was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Quick Facts

Born
1929
Died
1968
Lifespan
39 years
Domain
leadership
Quotes
3 collected
Key Themes
lovepurposefaith

Martin Luther King Jr.'s Famous Quotes

3 quotes

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.

Strength to Love (1963), Chapter 5: "Loving Your Enemies"

love

The time is always right to do what is right.

Commencement address at Oberlin College, June 1965

purpose

Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.

Widely attributed to King; origin unverified in his documented writings — commonly cited in motivational contexts

faith

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Frequently Asked Questions

Martin Luther King Jr. (1929–1968) was an American Baptist minister and the most prominent leader of the American civil rights movement. Trained as a minister at Boston University (Ph.D., 1955), he led the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955–56, co-founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and organized the March on Washington in 1963 where he delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 at 35 — the youngest recipient at the time. Deeply influenced by Thoreau, Gandhi, and his own Christian faith, he developed a philosophy of nonviolent resistance that transformed American law. He was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968. Martin Luther King Jr. lived 1929 – 1968.